Attachment for removing wet snow and slush,for detachable coupling to a raisable and lowerable snow plow



IDec. 8, 1970 M. aoscuuuca 3,545,109

ATTACHMENT FOR REMOVING WET SNOW AND SLUSH, FORDETACHABLE COUPLING TO A RAISABLE AND LOWERABLE SNOW PLOW Filed Dec. 18, 1967 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 i F i:

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M. BOSCHUNG DecQS, 1970 T ATTACHMENT FOR'REMOVING WET SNOW AND SLUSH, FOR DETACHABLE COUPLING TO A RAISABLE AND LOWERABLE SNOW PLOW Filed Dec. 18, 1967 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 M w 1 U W Av M 5 n d 1% 3,545,109 ATTACHMENT FOR REMOVING WET SNOW AND SLUSH, FOR DETACHABLE COUPLING TO A RAISABLE AND LOWERABLE SNOW PLOW Marcel Boschung, Ried, Schmitten, Switzerland Filed Dec. 18, 1967, Ser. No. 691,596 Claims priority, application Switzerland, Dec. 19, 1966, 18,140/66; Dec. 1, 1967, 16,956/67 Int. Cl. E01h /00 US. C]. 37-41 9 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE An attachment for removing wet snow and slush adapted to be detachably coupled to a raisable and lowerable snow plow is disclosed. The novel attachment comprises an oblong frame which defines two ends and a front and rear when attached to a snow plow. A flexible strip is fixed to the length of the frame at the front thereof for moving over the surface so as to remove wet snow and slush. Members are incorporated in the frame between the front and rear thereof on which the lower portions of the snow plow rest. Wheels are mounted on the frame and located behind the rear thereof so as to support the attachment for rolling movement over the surface. Detachable coupling of the attachment to the snow plow is achieved via coupling means. By virtue of the instant invention, the employment of snow plows for the removal of wet snow and slush is simplified and made more etficient, all without danger to the street pavement.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The invention relates to an attachment for removing wet snow and slush from surfaces, for detachable coupling to a raisable and lowerable snow plow.

A device of this kind, which is easily moved about, and quickly coupled to, and uncoupled from, a snow plow, is greatly needed in the colder regions of the world, where the fallen snow in winter must be expeditiously removed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The attachment of the invention, because it is supported on wheels, is easily removed from storage and brought to the spot where it can be coupled to the snow plow. When no longer needed, the attachment is just as easily uncoupled and stored.

The invention answers a particularly pressing need, because it simplifies and speeds the efficient employment of snow plows for the removal of wet snow and slush, without danger to the street pavement.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The invention will be described in detail with reference to the figures of the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a view in cross section of a first embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a top view of a part of the first embodiment;

FIG. 3 is a view in cross section of a second embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 4 is a top view of a part of the second embodiment; and

'FIG. 5 is a partial view in the direction of the arrow V in FIG. 3.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS With reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, the snow plow incorporates a plow proper 1, an arrangement 2, shown In dot-dash line, for raising and lowering the plow, rib-s United States Patent O "ice 3 on the rear face of the plow, the usual beam 4 along the lower edge of the plow, a reinforcing member 5 in the lower part of the snow plow, and the customary runner 6, which slides on the street pavement when the lower edges of the plow 1 and the beam 4 are badly worn.

The attachment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 includes an oblong connecting frame 7. The latter incorporates a dash 8, having an L-shaped section and extending the width of the plow 1. A connecting strip 10, U-shaped in cross section, and a clearance strip 11, for removing the wet snow and slush, made of rubber or of some other suitable flexible material, are fastened to the dash 8 by means of bolts 9. The connecting strip 10 and the clearance strip 11 are of the same length as the dash 8. A bed plate 12 is welded to each end section of the dash 8. To each end section, along the lower edge thereof is also welded a connecting plate 13, which projects downwards and rearwards. To each plate 13 are welded an arm 14, U-shaped in section and projecting rearwards and slightly upwards, and a support plate 15, which also extends rearwards and upwards. A horizontal plate 16 is welded to the underside of the plate 15 and the outer face of the inner wall of the arm 14. Thus, as seen in FIG. 1, pocket means are provided to detachably receive at least a part of the lower portions of the plow. An arm 18 is mounted, by means of a pivot 17, to pivot about a vertical axis. Two wheels 19 are mounted on the rear of each arm 18 to revolve about a horizontal axis. A connecting rod 20 is connected to the inner wall of the arm 14, approximately at the middle thereof, to pivot about an axis 20' extending horizontally and parallel to the main axis of the frame 7. To the upper end of the connecting rod is articulated a lever 21, which is detachably supported by a pin 22 fixed to one of the ribs 3, to which a stop 23 is also fastened. When the lever 21 is pivoted clockwise (as seen in FIG. 1) beyond a dead-center position, the handgrip of the lever 21 comes to bear on the stop 23, as illustrated in FIG. 1. The combination of connecting rod 20 and lever 21 thus provides a detachable connection between the attachment and the snow plow. The parts 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23 are also present at the other end of the dash 8 and connecting strip 10, but their arrangement is mirror inverted.

It is apparent from the preceding description that the attachment is independently movable, enabling it to be easily removed from its store place. The tractor or other vehicle on which the snow plow is mounted is then so maneuvered that by merely lowering the snow plow (by means of the arrangement .2) the parts 4, 3, and 6 of the plow generally defining lower portions thereof are brought to the position illustrated in FIG. 1, whereby the underside of the snow plow slides along the upper side of the arms 14, and the parts 4 and 6 finally come to rest against the respective parts 12 and 16 of the attachment. There remains only to bring the coupling arrangement 20 and 21 into its operative position.

During operation, the snow plow is supported on the pavement through the frame of the attachment and the wheels 19. As a result, the flexible removal strip 11 exerts virtually constant pressure on the pavement which is to be removed of slush. In the customary manner, the slush slides up the strip 11 and thence sideways along the plow 1. It is assumed, in this connection, that the snow plow is canted, as is conventional, to the direction of vehicle movement with the wheels 19, however, by virtue of the pivotal mounting of the arms 18, being oriented in the direction of forward progress.

If it is desired to employ the snow plow in the heretofore conventional manner for the removal of snow and 3 broken ice, the attachment is easily removed and put to one side.

In the embodiment described above, certain of the support surfaces are so arranged that they are contiguous with the lowest surfaces of the snow plow. Since these surfaces of the snow plow are frequently dented when removing snow, it has proved desirable to remove these surfaces to a position where they cannot be so damaged. It has also been observed, particularly to ensure good functioning of the arrangement for detachably coupling the attachment to the snow plow, that it is desirable to provide a trim and precise positioning of the attachment with respect to the snow plow along the direction of the width thereof. To this end, a vertical pin projecting into a bore would 'be an obvious solution. But it would be irksome to have to position the snow plow with respect to the attachment so that the pin and the bore were aligned, before lowering the plow.

The following embodiment, described in connection with- FIGS. 3 to 5, avoids these difiiculties, as will be apparent from the ensuing description.

The parts 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 of the snow plow, and the parts 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 and 13 of the attachment, are essentially the same as in the previous embodiment. The arms, located at each end of the attachment and given the reference number 14a, take a somewhat different form. The rear end of each arm is provided with a pivot support 24, having an approximately horizontal pivot axis, in which a pivot pin, of a connecting member 25, free to rotate but not displaceable, is mounted. By means of a vertical joint bolt 26, the member 25 carries a further connecting member 27. A forked arm 29 is connected to the member 27 to pivot about 28. The rear of the arm 29 supports a wheel 19 for rotation. A block 31, free to pivot about an axle 30 which is parallel to 28, is mounted in a forked projection 29a of the arm 29. The lower end of a screw spindle 33 is mounted to pivot about an axle 32 which is parallel to 28 and 30 and located in the upper forked end 26a of the joint bolt. The spindle 33 passes through a bore in the block 31, which bore has a diameter greater than that of the spindle. On each side of the block the spindle carries a respective nut 34 and 35. By adjusting these two nuts, the arm 29 can be pivoted upwards or downwards, and thus also the position (and possible inclination, as seen in FIG. 3) of the arm 14a with respect to the street surface S can be varied.

A positioning pin 36 is welded at its base to each arm 14a. The upper end of each pin terminates in a cone 36a incorporating an included angle of between approximately 60 and 90 and an outside base diameter of approximately 12 cm. or more. A cylinder 38, have a surface 38a matching that of the cone 36a, is securely mounted on each end of the plow 1 by means of a pair of ribs 37.

In addition, two devices, similar to those describedin the first embodiment, are provided for detachably coupling the attachment to the snow plow. Each device includes an elastically flexible, curved connecting rod 39, the lower end of which is mounted to pivot about a pin 40, which extends in the direction of movement of the snow plow and is secured to the arm 14a by means of lugs 14b. The upper end of the rod 39 is pivotally'connected to a lever 41, which has a forked portion that is detachably supported by a pin 42 welded to the cylinder 38. By pivoting the lever 41 clockwise (as seen in FIG. 5') past a dead-center point the connecting rod 39 deflecting elastically, the handgrips 41a of the lever comes to rest on a stop 43 welded to the cylinder 38. The device, thus operated, detachably couples the attachment to the snow plow.

By means of the two cone pairs 36a, 38a it is easier to obtain the correct mutual positions of the plow and the attachment, before lowering the plow prior to coupling. In order to ensure that the surfaces of the cones are in proper contactin other words, to prevent any noteworthy ditferences between the axes defined by a cone pair,--even when the removal strip 11 and/orthe wheels19- the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. For detachable coupling to a raisable and lowerable I snow plow, an attachment for removing wet snow and slush, including; an oblong frame defining two ends and a front and a rear when attached to a snow plow; a flexible strip fixed to the length of said frame, at the front thereof, for moving over the surface to remove wet snow and slush; members incorporated insaid frame be-.

tween said front and rear thereof on whichlower portions of the, snow plowrest; said members being incorporated on the ends of said frame; additional members supported by said frame and-cooperating-with said last-mentioned memebrs to provide pocket means for detachably receiving at least part of said lower portions of the plow for accurately positioning said attachment at said plow; coupling means for detachably coupling said attachment to the snow plow; means for mounting wheels to said frame, wheels mounted on the frame by said mounting means and located behind said rear thereof, for supporting the attachment for rolling movement over the surface, said mounting means incorporating a first arm attached to each end of said frame, a second arm mounted on each said first arm to pivot about a vertical axis and mounting at least one of said wheels for rotation.

2. The attachment as defined in claim 1, wherein said first and second arms extend rearwards of said frame.

3. For detachable coupling to a raisable and lowerable snow plow, an attachement for removing wet snow and slush, including: an oblong frame defining two ends and a front and a rear when attached to a snow plow; a flexible strip fixed to the length of said frame, at the front thereof, for moving over the surface to remove wet snow and slush; members incorporated in said frame between said front and rear thereof, on which lower portions of the snow plow rest; coupling means for detachably coupling said attachment to the snow plow; and wheels mounted. on the frame and located behind said rear thereof, for supporting the attachment for rolling movement over the surface, and wherein said membersvare incorporated on the ends of said frame; a first arm attached to each end of said frame; a second arm mounted on each said first arm to pivot about a vertical axis and mounting at least one of said wheels for rotation, said attachment further including a pair of said coupling means, one associated with each said first arm, and an individual connecting rod for each said coupling means mounted on a respective first arm for pivoting aboutan axis parallel to the lengthwise direction of said frame.

4. For detachable coupling to a raisable and lowerable snow plow, an attachment for removing wet snow and slush, including: an oblong frame defining two ends and a front and a rear when attached to a snow plow; a flexible strip fixed to the length of said frame, at the front thereof, for moving over the surface to remove wet snow and slush; members incorporated in said frame between said front and rear thereof, on which lower portions of the snow plow rest; coupling means for detachably coupling said attachment to the snow plow; and wheels mounted on the frame and located behind said rear thereof, for supporting the attachment for rolling movement over the surface; said attachment further including on each end of said frame a member incorporating a vertical cone, and a mating cone on the snow plow for receiving and engaging said vertical cone. I

5. For detachable coupling to a raisable and lowerable snow plow, an attachment for removing wet snow and slush, including: an oblong frame defining two ends and a front and a rear when attached to a snow plow; a flexible strip fixed to the length of said frame, at the front thereof, for moving over the surface to remove wet snow and slush; members incorporated in said frame between said front and rear thereof, on which lower portions of the snow plow rest; coupling means for detachably coupling said attachment to the snow plow; and wheels mounted on the frame and located behind said rear thereof, for supporting the attachment for rolling movement over the surface, and wherein said members are incorporated on the ends of said frame; a first arm attached to each end of said frame; a second arm mounted on each said first arm to pivot about a vertical axis and mounting at least one of said wheels for rotation, said attachment further including on each end of said frame a member incorporating a vertical cone, and a mating cone on the snow plow for receiving and engaging said vertical cone.

6. For detachable coupling to a raisable and lowerable snoy plow, an attachment for removing wet snow and sluch, including: an oblong frame defining two ends and a front and a rear when attached to a snow plow; a flexible strip fixed to the length of said frame, at the front thereof, for moving over the surface to remove wet snow and slush; members incorporated in said frame between said front and rear thereof, on which lower portions of the snow plow rest; coupling means for detachably coupling said attachment to the snow plow; and wheels mounted on the frame and located behind said rear thereof, for supporting the attachment for rolling movement over the surface, and wherein said member are incorporated on the ends of said frame; a first arm attached to each end of said frame; a second arm mounted on each said first arm to pivot about a vertical axis and mounting at least one of said wheels for rotation; said attachment further including a pair of said coupling means, one associated. with each arm, and an individual connecting rod for each of said coupling means pivotally mounted on a respective arm, and on each end of said frame a member incorporating a 6 vertical cone, and a mating cone on the snow plow for receiving and engaging said vertical cone.

7. The attachment as defined in claim 4, including an individual arm connected to said frame at each end there of; a connecting member coupled to each said arm; a further arm coupled to each said connecting member, free to pivot about a horizontal axis; one of said wheels mounted on each said further arm, free to rotate about a further horizontal axis, said horizontal axis and said further horizontal axis extending crosswise to the direction of movement of the snow plow.

8. The attachment as defined in claim 7, including means for adjusting the position of said further arm with respect to said connecting member, by pivoting said further arm about said horizontal axis.

9. The attachment as defined in claim 8, wherein said adjusting means includes a spindle mounted to pivot about a first horizontal axis on said connecting member; a block through which said spindle freely passes mounted to pivot about a second horizontal axis on said further arm, said first and second horizontal axes extending crosswise to the direction of movement of the snow plow; and means for adjusting the position of said block along the length of said spindle and locking said block in position.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 199,636 1/1878 Gale 172-396 1,964,617 6/1934 Bird 3742 2,116,351 5/1938 Jones et a1. 3742 3,126,652 3/1964 Reissinger 3741 FOREIGN PATENTS 61,132 3/1955 France.

ROBERT E. PULFREY, Primary Examiner E. H. EICKHOLT, Assistant Examiner US. Cl. XJR. 3 7-50* 

